How to Stay Safe in a Tornado
• Never stay in mobile, manufactured homes, or trailers during a tornado warning. These are some of the worst places to be.
• If you're driving, go to the nearest building and take shelter there. If there is no nearby building, get in a ditch. Never park under overpasses.
• If you do not live in a mobile home/trailer, but don't have a basement, get to the lowest, most interior part of the home that doesn't have any windows.
• Basements & storm cellars are the best place.
• Employers: have a plan in place. Get to the lowest, most interior part of the building that doesn't have any windows. Make sure to have weather radios that can be heard. Make all your employees aware of the severe weather threat and make sure there are clear, known guidelines for tornado warnings.
• Storm sirens should never be your source to get warnings. Sirens are used for people outdoors only, and even then you should not depend on them.
• A weather radio and/or a cell phone are the best ways to get severe weather alerts. A good app to use for alerts is AccuWeather (fastest).
• Have a tornado preparedness kit at the ready. It should include: water & non-perishable food, flashlights, extra cell phone batteries, and a first aid kit.
• Stay weather aware and keep up-to-date with weather forecasts.
How to Stay Safe in Winter Storms
• Buy salt and a shovel to keep sidewalks clear of ice and snow.
• Keep a flashlight, batteries, and extra cell phone batteries ready in case of a power outage.
• Bring your pets inside.
• Stock up on non-perishable food.
• Be prepared for extended power outages if high wind or ice is expected.
• Stay weather aware and keep up-to-date with weather forecasts.
If traveling in a winter storm:
• Have a full tank of gas.
• Keep a cell phone charger, jumper cables, water, snacks, blankets, sand, hazard reflectors, a tow rope, and an ice/snow scraper in the car.
• Be prepared for more traffic, accidents, and longer driving times.
How to Stay Safe in Extreme Heat
• Reduce or eliminate outdoor activities.
• Wear lightweight, loose fitting, light-colored clothing.
• Limit direct exposure to sun.
• Drink plenty of cool water.
• Know the signs of heat exhaustion & a heat stroke.
• Check on older, young, those with health issues.
• Never leave kids or pets in cars.
• Keep your pets indoors.
How to Stay Safe in Extreme Cold
• Dress in warm, loose fitting, lightweight layers.
• Wear a hat and mittens.
• Limit time outdoors.
• Know the signs of hypothermia and frostbite.
Know the Difference
WARNING
Severe weather is imminent. Take action.
WATCH
Conditions are favorable for severe weather. Monitor weather forecasts and be prepared to take action.
Severe Weather Alerts
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
When severe thunderstorms are possible in and near the watch area. It does not mean that they will occur. It only means they are possible.
Particularly Dangerous Situation Severe Thunderstorm Watch
High confidence in an unusual, high-impact severe thunderstorm event (usually a derecho--a large, destructive wind storm).
Tornado Watch
When severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. It does not mean that they will occur. It only means they are possible.
Particularly Dangerous Situation Tornado Watch
High confidence in multiple strong to violent tornadoes (EF2-EF5).
Baseline Severe Thunderstorm Warning
58 to 69 mph winds and/or quarter size to ping pong ball hail or larger is imminent.
Considerable Severe Thunderstorm Warning
70 to 79 mph winds and/or golf ball to tennis ball sized hail.
Destructive Severe Thunderstorm Warning
80mph+ winds and/or baseball sized hail or larger (this sets off Wireless Emergency Alerts on cell phones).
Tornado Warning
Either rotation has been detected on radar or a tornado or funnel cloud has been spotted.
Particularly Dangerous Situation Tornado Warning
A tornado is confirmed (via debris on radar or by a person/camera) and is expected to cause a life-threatening situation and considerable damage.
Tornado Emergency
A tornado is confirmed and is expected to cause widespread damage and injuries/fatalities.
Flood Alerts
Flood Watch
When conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible.
Particularly Dangerous Situation Flood Watch
Confidence is high in a rare, widespread, life-threatening flooding event.
Flash Flood Warning
Most common flash flood warning. Heavy rain has been detected on radar and is expected to cause flash flooding, or flash flooding has been reported.
Considerable Flash Flood Warning
A damaging flood is expected or occurring (activates Wireless Emergency Alerts on cell phones).
Flash Flood Emergency
Very rare situations when extremely heavy rain is leading to a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage from a flash flood is happening or will happen soon.
Wind Alerts
High Wind Watch
Issued when there is the potential for: 1) sustained winds of 40 mph or higher for one hour or more or 2) wind gusts of 58 mph or higher for any duration.
High Wind Warning
Issued when there is high confidence in: 1) sustained winds of 40 mph or higher for one hour or more or 2) wind gusts of 58 mph or higher for any duration.
Wind Advisory
Issued when the following conditions are expected: 1) sustained winds of 31 to 39 mph for an hour or more and/or 2) wind gusts of 46 to 57 mph for any duration.
Winter Weather Alerts
Winter Weather Advisory
Wintry weather expected. Light (4 inches or less of snow, less than 2 inches of sleet, less than ¼ inch of ice) amounts of wintry precipitation or patchy blowing snow will cause slick conditions and could affect travel if precautions are not taken. This can be issued for snow, sleet, and/or ice.
Winter Storm Watch
Snow, sleet, and/or ice possible. Confidence is medium that a winter storm could produce heavy snow, sleet, and/or freezing rain and cause significant impacts.
Winter Storm Warning
Snow, sleet, and/or ice expected. Confidence is high that a winter storm will produce heavy snow, sleet and/or freezing rain and cause significant impacts.
Blizzard Warning
High confidence in: frequent gusts greater than or equal to 35 mph accompanied by falling and/or blowing snow, frequently reducing visibility to less than 1/4 mile for three hours or more. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibility is likely, leading to whiteout conditions making travel extremely difficult. Travel is strongly advised against if you are in this alert.
Ice Storm Warning
High confidence in ice accumulation of 1/4 inch or more. This amount of ice accumulation will make travel dangerous or impossible and lead to snapped power lines, falling tree branches, and extended power outages.
Extreme Cold Warning
Confidence is high that there will be dangerously-low feel like values. This level of wind chill will result in frostbite and lead to hypothermia if precautions are not taken. Avoid going outdoors and wear warm protective clothing if you must venture outside. (Criteria is feel likes of -25° or lower)
Extreme Cold Watch
There is the potential for dangerously-low wind chill values.
Cold Weather Advisory
When low feel like temperatures are expected but will not reach extreme cold warning criteria. (Criteria is feel likes of -10° to -15°)
Freeze Watch
When there is a potential for widespread freezing temperatures within the next 24-36 hours. Issued in the autumn until the end of the growing season (marked by the occurrence of the first widespread freeze).
Freeze Warning
When there is high confidence in widespread freezing temperatures. Issued in the autumn until the end of the growing season (marked by the occurrence of the first widespread freeze).
Frost Advisory
When the minimum temperature is forecast to be 33 to 36 degrees on clear and calm nights during the growing season. Issued in the autumn until the end of the growing season (marked by the occurrence of the first widespread freeze).
Heat/Other Alerts
Heat Advisory
When daytime heat indices are forecast near or in excess of 105°F for any duration. May also be issued if sub-advisory criteria (100-104°) are forecast to persist for at least four consecutive days.
Extreme Heat Warning
High confidence in daytime heat indices being near or in excess of 110°F for two consecutive days, with nighttime lows of at least 75°F. May also be issued if Heat Advisory criteria are forecast to persist for at least four consecutive days.
Extreme Heat Watch
Issued in advance of a warning if conditions are favorable for an excessive heat event in the next 24 to 72 hours.
Dense Fog Advisory
Issued when widespread dense fog develops, causing visibility to be reduced to a quarter of a mile or less.